Pronghorn women edged by UBC Thunderbirds
Last basket wins. In a back-and-forth affair, the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s basketball team was edged 65-63 by the UBC Thunderbirds in Canada West action Friday night at the 1st Choice Savings Centre.
The Horns had a seven-point lead with a little under four minutes to go, but couldn’t make it stand up as the Thunderbirds went up 64-63 with a little over a minute ago and protected that lead as the Pronghorns dropped their third straight to sit at 10-5, while UBC improves to 5-8.
“I think coming off last weekend we really valued the importance and energy tonight. So I think that was really good to start the game,” said Pronghorns senior guard Zoe Dahl, who led Lethbridge with 16 points. “The value of the basketball was big for us tonight and we let them have a few more possessions than us. In a tight game like this, that’s what it comes down to. So I think tomorrow, as a team, we’ll bounce back with tons of energy and value the basketball more.”
The Horns held a 16-14 lead after the first quarter, but UBC answered back in the second quarter to nurse a 31-30 lead at the half.
The Thunderbirds built on their lead in the third quarter, moving up by five in the early going, but Pronghorns Amy Mazutinec hit a pair of threes and hauled in a steal for another basket to trim the visitors lead to 50-48 after the third quarter.
The Pronghorns went on a 13-4 run in the fourth quarter for a seven-point lead, but the Thunderbirds chipped away and took a one-point lead into the final minute as Madison Legault put UBC up for good with a little over a minute to go.
“It really comes to rebounding at the end, there were a couple of missed rebounds,” said Pronghorns assistant coach Dave Waknuk. “Then for us, it was taking care of the basketball. When you turn over the basketball and make a couple of mistakes late, good teams like that will punish you and score off our turnovers. So we had a lead late, but beat ourselves in a few of the areas.”
Coming in off the bench, Mazutinec hit for 14 points and 10 rebounds. Kacie Bosch had nine points and five assists, while Katie Keith hauled in eight boards.
The Horns look for their first win of the 2018 calendar year in the rematch tonight at 5 p.m. at the 1st Choice Savings Centre.
“I think it’s all about getting fired up and our defensive energy,” said Dahl, who also had three steals Friday. “I think helping down on No. 9 (Keylyn Filewich, who led UBC with 27 points), she kind of killed us down low. We’ll make adjustments and come back tomorrow. I know this team is really hungry for wins and we’re usually pretty good after a loss to come back in fired up. So it’ll be good tomorrow.”
In the men’s game the Pronghorns were defeated 8471 by the Thunderbirds and are also looking for their first win of the calendar year and are 10-5.
With the win, the Thunderbirds take over second at 11-2. The Horns are tied for third with the Manitoba Bisons, who host Victoria (6-6) today and Sunday.
The Thunderbirds opened up a 43-27 lead at the half.
The Horns keyed a late rally, outscoring UBC 27-19 in the fourth quarter, but the visitors output in the first three quarters was enough to ensure the win.
Brett Warren led the Pronghorns with 17 points Friday night. Zac Overwater added 15, Kyle Peterson put up 13 and Mark Rodehutskors came off the bench to add another 11. Peterson also had seven assists.
Awak Piom had seven rebounds for Lethbridge.
The Pronghorns will look to snap their three-game skid tonight during the rematch with UBC at 7 p.m. at the 1st Choice Savings Centre.